Gef-iw5 etps mangroves

AA.Innovativeness

While there is rapidly growing recognition of the importance of mangroves for the numerous ecosystem services they provide, there are few examples of regional or national policy and management addressing the full suite of pressures from across the reef-to-ridge complex that result in mangrove deforestation and loss.

This is particularly true outside of developed countries and specifically within the ETPS countries. This project will be innovative and timely by building and reinforcing the existing coastal site focused mangrove policy and management in the region – including the regional CPPS mangrove strategy – and expanding the perspective of these laws to recognize both pressures and ecosystem services associated with mangroves from upper watersheds, through the mangrove fringe and beyond into linked coastal marine habitats.

AB.Project Communications, and Public Education and Awareness

During the PPG phase a draft communication protocol was developed to help support both internal and external communications together with a draft communications strategy for the project. These are to be approved by the Project Steering Group during the start-up period for the Full Project. A shared on-line inventory of mangrove related materials researched across the literature base was also prepared during the PPG phase for continued use in technical meetings and the development of outreach materials.

A UNESCO communications specialist working with project partners CI and CPPS will have a transverse role coordinating and developing communication materials for the project between project partners. This will involve a project website, a bi-annual newsletter and implementation of social media. The results of technical meetings will be summarized and published on-line and project presentations given in at least three national, regional and global conservation, science, policy and related fora (e.g.: Ramsar, CBD, IMPAC, International Blue Carbon Working Group, ITTO). All materials produced will be made available through the project website and included in the GEF IW-Learn mechanism (including allocation of 1% of project budget for this purpose). Presentations will also be made to policy makers in other mangrove relevant countries by Y2Q4.

AC.Lessons Learned During the PPG Phase and from other Relevant GEF Projects

Key lessons and observations included:

• 
  Response to the GEF-SEC review of the PIF stage included consideration during the PPG of the trans-boundary mangrove complex spanning the Colombia-Ecuador as a candidate local demonstration site. It was decided that this be included as an element during the national policy planning between Ecuador and Colombian foreign affair ministries but for access and logistics reasons it was left in favor of the other four sites which represent opportunities to explore concessions (El Morro, Ecuador), small scale sustainable private enterprises (Nicoya, Costa Rica), traditional use and reforesting (Bahia Malaga, Colombia) and integrated climate adaptation and management planning (David, Panama).
  
• 
  The regional coordination needed during the PPG between the Project Steering Group/ EA and the governments of the four ETPS countries was greatly facilitated by the existing relationship and project history of CI teams in each country. This helped ensure that relevant stakeholders were engaged and the right issues targeted. This was particularly important when developing agreements and prioritizing demonstration sites given the time frame available for the PPG phase.
  
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  Some stakeholders mentioned that the technical commissions set up through parliament channels (as is the case with the CPPS process) are not always inclusive, often relying on invitations from different government areas. The project will address this using the Project Steering Committee (CPPS, CI, UNESCO) to ensure that funds permitting, all relevant technical bodies are given the opportunity to participate as part of the technical working groups and meetings.
  
• 
  CI-Country teams also recognized the importance of setting up where possible regular communication channels to keep Parliament and Ministry counterparts informed. Timing issues for consultations with government authorities in Latin America (e.g. the holiday period and programming of national budget allocations etc.) complicated discussions with stakeholders requiring time sensitive decisions during the PPG phase. These considerations should be taken into account during the development of annual work plans to avoid difficult periods for the public sector and ensure deadlines for decisions on budgeting, planning; hence any impact on project actions depending on government processes are anticipated.
  
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  In terms of participation and the development of base-line information, materials were provided for all CI-country teams to facilitate the collection of data during the PPG phase. In the majority of cases ongoing and recent project work by CI technical staff in the selected local areas provided a basis for Project development during meetings and interchanges with each country. Nonetheless it is anticipated that additional information be required as individual conservation incentives and local demonstration projects at each site are developed to ensure that safeguard considerations as detailed in Appendix VI(a-d) are addressed and scoped to the context of each of the four selected sites.
  
• 
  In the case of approaching local Afro-descendant and IPP communities in the Valle de Cauca, Buenaventura district, CI-Colombia followed the correct process indicated by the MADS government authority. Access was facilitated through positive meetings with the Corporación del Valle de Cauca District authority representatives during the PPG phase. These negotiations were more involved than those in other regions and highlighted additional considerations necessary for ProDoc planning/ timing the linked process for OFP government approval.
  

As a result complications arose obtaining timely information for safeguards (particularly the IPP) before Project Document submission to the Project Agency; a "catch-22" situation given that authorities require the Project Document draft for national approval before pre-work/ base-line aspects of the project can really begin. As a result the safeguard plans were adapted to reflect these necessary steps requiring additional base-line work with local communities for the later stage of the PPG and Y1 of the full project. To help mitigate this problem, two 1 month consultancies (each year) are included to assist with any outstanding base-line gaps for Monitoring and Evaluation.